Inside this issue, you will find recent Contest Winners, Tea Culture, an Afternoon Tea Menu Recipe, Tea Biz in a Box Opportunity and much more.

At Tea Connexions we carry a variety of teas such as black, oolong, and green. We are looking forward to launching teas from other countries and supplying tea accessories in the near future.

Are you interested in placing an order? Tea Connexions and its independent distributor members ensure that your orders are processed simply and safely. Through our system of localized distribution, you have the opportunity to order from your nearest distributor for prompt, courteous, and cheerful service. Local service benefits you because it decreases shipping time and costs. It also benefits you because you are not dealing with a head office in another state or country, but a local representative better able to serve your needs, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have. Many of our distributors offer gift-wrapping and other gift giving services to facilitate your gift giving needs. To find out about these services, simply call your nearest distributor or send them an e-mail.

I look forward to giving away many more cups of FREE tea. Remember our motto: Gourmet Teas. Beautiful Packaging. Superior Service. Exceptional Value.

Yours sincerely,

Daisy Lieu
Marketing Director
Tea Connexions

P.S. Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and family.
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  2.Tea4Free Contest Winners

The Tea4Free contest is ongoing and winners are posted here.

Congratulations to our 3 recent lucky winners: Lois T. of Lowbanks, ON; Jennifer C. of Newark, DE; and Janet S. of Caledonia, NY.

• Bob Holt of www.beyondgoodtea.com presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Lois T. of Lowbanks, ON.
• Alexander Madjeski of www.majesticteas.com presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Jennifer B. of Newark, DE.
• Janine Hamilton and Dan DeWind of www.teafromtwo.com presented the tea4free prize to our lucky winner, Janet S. of Caledonia, NY.

Some of the many benefits involved in this program include localized service from your distributor, lifetime substantial savings off tea products, excellent profit potential, income flexibility, and tax savings. Each kit is packed with 26 tea products valued at over $275. You get this for a fraction of the cost, plus receive catalogs, brochures, and a training manual to help you get customers.

If you would like more information about this product click here to find your nearest distributor who carries this Tea Biz in a Box kit and get started!
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4. Green Tea

Made from the dried leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, Green tea is formed when its leaves are dried without time for oxidization or fermentation. Green tea is popular all over the world, not only for the taste but also for its many health benefits including lowering your cholesterol, boosting your immune system and helping to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Green tea also contains polyphenols such as tannins (a nutrient antioxidant), catchins (EGCG which is a powerful antioxidant), and flavanoids, as well as other vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C.
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 5.This Month’s Featured Teas

GT01-Organic Darjeeling Green Tea Darjeeling Organic Green Tea's unfermented leaf differentiates it from black teas, which rely upon fermentation for their flavor. Research has proven the health-giving benefits of antioxidants, like those found in tea. The mellow taste of Darjeeling Organic Green Tea makes becoming healthier sheer pleasure. This tea is suited best without milk.

GT02 - Gun Powder Green Darjeeling Tea The "Green Pearls" or Darjeeling Gun Powder Tea leaves are unfermented. Gently steamed within hours of plucking, leaves are skillfully rolled into tight small pellets resembling gunshot. Gun powder tea retains its delicate flavor and aroma far longer than other green teas. Rich in fluoride, calcium, and antioxidants, gun powder tea is well known for its strong bitter taste, which is why coffee drinkers readily switch to green tea. This dark tea is best without milk. To order any of these teas, click here to find your nearest distributor.

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  6.Tea Culture

Morning tea

This is usually a break at mid-morning for a well made pot of tea and a choice of something light or perhaps a little more substantial to eat, sweet or savoury, in a relaxed atmosphere. There is no accounting for taste at this time of day and a mix of sweet and savoury, and even toast and marmalade is appropriate. Royal Selection Orange Pekoe Tin would be a great tea to recommend for this occasion.

Afternoon Tea

This is the one that comes to mind when people think of English tea ceremonies. It all began back in the mid 1800s, when the Duchess of Bedford started having a tray of tea with bread and butter served to her in the mid-afternoon. In those days, lunch was served at noon, but dinner was not eaten until 8 or even 9 o'clock at night. The Duchess found herself hungry during those long afternoon hours. It became a regular occurrence and as she began to invite other high-society ladies to join her, having Afternoon Tea became the popular social culture for the upper-class women. Today, the proper afternoon tea consists of a selection of dainty sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream, lemon curd and preserves. Cakes and pastries are also served. It is customary to have nice linen, flowers, soft music and fine china. A great tea to recommend for afternoon tea is Darjeeling Summer Tips.

Here are some afternoon tea menu items to consider and watch for these recipes in the upcoming issues: muffins, crumpets, cookies, squares, tarts, scones, teacakes, tortes, fresh fruit and fondue, cheese and fruit platter, danishes, trifles, biscuits and preserves, hot cross buns, wafers, shortbreads, petit fours, and meringues.

High Tea

High tea was served during the evening when a meal would be served. It was started in England as a ploughman's or workingman's supper of strong tea served with ham, roast beef, leg of lamb, bread and butter, pastries, custard and cakes. It was more of a man's meal than a ladies social diversion. Many in America still think that High Tea is the elegant tea and confuse it with the afternoon tea. A great strong tea to accompany this meal is an Assam based tea such as High Elevation Assam or Assam Summer Tips.
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  7. Afternoon Tea Recipe

Tea Sandwiches

Use day-old, thinly sliced, square white loaves. Cut off the crusts and butter the bread sparingly, using soft butter so the slices don't break. Add a modest amount of filling, and no more; two tablespoons per slice of any of the fillings below is sufficient. Spread the filling, add any garnish, and place another slice on top. Using a long, sharp knife, make an X-cut to get four smaller triangular sandwiches. Add a couple of long toothpicks to help stabilize while you are cutting. Place the cut sandwiches on a serving platter, and cover with a damp napkin. Refrigerate for at least four hours.

FILLINGS: Mix up a small batch of three of four of your favorite sandwich fillings. You can use a curried egg salad (the usual mayo & eggs but add 1/2 teaspoon of curry powder), tuna salad with lots of celery, deviled ham with some extra mayo, shrimp salad, etc. Try to pick out flavors that will taste well together.

Some popular combos are:

Anchovy butter and Greek olives: Combine 1 ounce of anchovy fillets, 2 tablespoons of butter, and a pinch of black pepper in a small food-processor. Spread very thinly on the bread, and add a layer of finely-sliced pitted greek olives on top.

Boiled chicken and ham: Thinly sliced, with mustard.

Avocado slices: with dijon mustard dressing and chives.

Tomato slices with basil

And, of course…cucumber

Watch for next month's issue for the High Tea Lemon Cookies Recipe…(This recipe is courtesy of www.soyouwanna.com)
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  8. Health News

To submit health news, e-mail us.

TEA AND YOUR BLADDER
According to RealAge.com, sipping on some green tea could help keep your bladder healthy. A compound found in green tea was shown to inhibit the growth of bladder cancer in recent cell studies. The compound, a type of catchin, was injected directly into the cells, blocking their growth. Other studies have shown bladder benefits from drinking green tea.

TEA AND DAILY INTAKE
Dr. Jack F. Bukowski of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School said that five cups of tea a day sharpened the body's defenses against disease. It will aid in lowering heart disease and cancer risk through the action of flavanoids.

TEA AND YOUR BREATH
A Globe and Mail article stated that a study from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found the popular beverage containing compounds called polyphenols, which halt the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
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  9. TEA-mates

Tea Connexions is dedicated to providing the highest quality gourmet teas. Packaged beautifully, they make an ideal gift for tea lovers, health enthusiasts, and connoisseurs of fine art. Our mission is to offer you beautifully packaged gourmet teas distributed by an elite group of independent distributors that offer you superior service and exceptional value. Your satisfaction is assured; all of our products carry a 100% money back guarantee.

More than 100 distributors look forward to serving your tea and gift giving needs. For an updated list, click here. If a distributor is not in your immediate area, please choose the closest distributor. Please note, this list represents distributors whose online stores are live and active; missing are distributors whose stores are still under construction. To choose your nearest distributor, using a clickable image map, click here.
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  10. Once Upon a Tea Time . . . Submit Your Fondest Tea Memory to Win Free Tea

Whether it's childhood memories of granny's kitchen, mom's healing hands or toasts to success, each month Tea 4 Free News - Teazine features favorite tea stories. We would love to hear yours. If we choose your story, we will send you a FREE carton of Darjeeling tea bags.

This month's featured Tea Story is from Anne Seigriest:

"Before I was old enough to drink coffee or tea, my mother served me "Cambric Tea." I felt pretty special as I sipped my hot drink, which I found out later was only a cup of hot water with milk and sugar. When I was older, I began to appreciate the clear amber tea with its own delicate taste. Of course, when we visited Grandma, she picked and brewed mint "tea" from the mint beds around the house. This had such a comforting aroma that I began buying mint-flavored black tea when I was a young wife and mother. Now I cherish my English teapot and I carefully measure out Assam tea, brewing it in the pot and covering it with a thick tea cozy. When the timer dings, I remove the tea leaves and pour myself a rich, dark cup of healthful tea. Luxury and health meet and my spirit is nourished."

To submit a tea story, e-mail us.
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  11. Next Issue . . .

- - - >Tea 4 Free Winners
- - - >More Tea Myths
- - - >Tea Bags
- - - >More Recipes
- - - >Reading Tea Leaves
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  12. Credits

This issue of Tea 4 Free News -Teazine was researched and written by Daisy Lieu, Marketing Director for Tea Connexions. The html version of this newsletter and all web sites www.leaftea.com, www.tea4free.com, and www.leafteabiz.com are managed and created by our Creative Director, Suruchi Gupta. If you would like more information about how you can benefit from her services, click here.
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